You know the vibe. It’s early February, you’re standing in a CVS aisle, and there they are. Those tiny, pastel-colored boxes of valentine candy hearts stacked next to the overpriced plush bears. They taste like drywall. Or maybe a very sweet Tums? Honestly, nobody is buying them for the gourmet flavor profile. We buy them because, for over a hundred years, these little sugar wafers have been the unofficial stenographers of our awkward romantic lives. They’re weirdly iconic.
Most people call them "Conversation Hearts." That’s the generic term, but the heavy hitter in the space has always been Sweethearts, originally made by Necco and now owned by Spangler Candy Company. It’s a business built on nostalgia and a very specific type of industrial printing. If you’ve ever wondered why they disappeared for a year back in 2019, or why the phrases on them went from Victorian-era "SWEET TALK" to 21st-century "TEXT ME," you’re looking at a fascinating intersection of American manufacturing and shifting social norms.
The Weird History of the Machine Behind the Heart
It started with a throat lozenge. Seriously. In 1847, an English immigrant named Oliver Chase was looking for a way to simplify the production of apothecary lozenges. He invented a machine—the first of its kind in America—that worked basically like a pasta cutter. It cranked out little disks of sugar and medicinal paste. Eventually, he realized people liked the candy more than the medicine.
His brother, Daniel Chase, took it a step further in 1866. He figured out how to use a felt pad and vegetable dye to print words directly onto the candy. In the early days, these weren't tiny hearts. They were large, scalloped wafers called "Cockles." They often contained long, winding messages like "Please send a lock of your hair by return mail." Imagine trying to fit that on a modern candy heart today. You’d need a magnifying glass and a lot of patience.
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By 1901, the shape shifted to the heart we recognize. The Necco brand (New England Confectionery Company) became the gold standard. For over a century, they churned out billions of hearts. Then, in 2018, Necco went bankrupt. The factory in Revere, Massachusetts, shut its doors. Panic ensued. For the first time in generations, there were no new Sweethearts on the shelves for Valentine’s Day 2019.
Spangler and the Great Recovery
Spangler Candy Company—the folks who make Dum Dums—bought the brand at auction. But they didn't get the original equipment in time to meet the production cycle for the next year. When they finally moved the 60 massive candy-making machines to Ohio, they realized the printing technology was incredibly finicky. It’s an old-school process. We're talking about printers that are decades old, trying to stamp ink onto a porous, uneven surface at high speeds.
In 2020, when Sweethearts finally returned, they were a mess. People were opening boxes to find "blank" hearts or smeared ink. It looked like the candy was having a mid-life crisis. Spangler was cool about it, though. They leaned into the "clunky" nature of the tech. It reminded everyone that these aren't high-definition digital products; they’re physical artifacts of a bygone era of confectionery.
How Valentine Candy Hearts Are Actually Made
The process is surprisingly low-tech. It’s essentially a giant dough mixer. Sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, gelatin, and flavors are mashed together until they form something that looks like play-dough. Each color has its own flavor.
- Yellow is lemon (often the one left at the bottom of the box).
- Orange is... well, orange.
- White is wintergreen (the dark horse favorite).
- Green is lime.
- Pink is cherry.
- Purple is grape.
Once the dough is mixed, it’s rolled flat. The "printer" stamps the messages, and then a cutter punches out the heart shapes. The scraps are actually recycled back into the next batch. The hearts then sit in a drying room for two to three days. That’s why they’re so crunchy. They aren't baked; they’re just dehydrated. If you find a box that feels extra hard, it’s likely just been sitting in a warehouse a bit longer, but because of the high sugar content and low moisture, these things have a shelf life that could probably outlast a nuclear winter.
The Evolution of "Be Mine"
The vocabulary of valentine candy hearts is a living record of how we flirt. Every year, a committee at the candy company sits down to decide which phrases stay and which ones get "retired." It’s a ruthless process. In the mid-1900s, you had "DIG ME" and "HEP CAT." By the 90s, "FAX ME" was the height of cool.
Today, the phrases are much more digital-native. You'll see "DM ME," "GOAT," and "CHILL OUT." Spangler even released a "Situationship" box recently, filled with blurry, unreadable messages. It was a brilliant marketing move. It acknowledged the modern dating culture where everything is vague and non-committal.
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The Battle for the Bowl: Sweethearts vs. Brach’s
While Sweethearts is the "authentic" brand, Brach’s is the giant that filled the vacuum during the Necco bankruptcy. If you buy a bag of hearts today, look closely at the texture. Brach’s hearts are generally smoother and have more vibrant colors. Their flavors are a bit more modern—sometimes they do "Tropical" or "Wild Berry" mixes.
Purists hate them. They want that chalky, matte finish of the original. But kids often prefer the Brach's version because they taste more like actual candy and less like a vintage pharmacy. From a business perspective, the competition is fierce. The window for selling these is tiny—basically January 2nd to February 14th—but the volume is staggering. We're talking about roughly 8 billion hearts produced annually. That’s enough to stretch from Rome, Italy, to Valentine, Arizona, and back again about twenty times.
Why Do We Still Care?
Let's be real: they aren't the best-tasting candy. Not by a long shot. If someone gives you a box of hearts instead of a box of Godiva or Lindt, they’re either broke or trying to be ironic. Yet, we buy them. Why?
It's the "shareability" factor. Long before Instagram, these were the original social media. You could literally hand someone a piece of your mind. They’re tactile. They’re cheap. They’re also one of the few candies that actually works as a craft supply. Teachers love them for math lessons. DIYers use them for wreaths or resin coasters.
There's also the nostalgia. Opening a box and smelling that weird, medicinal wintergreen scent immediately teleports most people back to a third-grade classroom with paper mailboxes taped to the desks. You can't buy that kind of brand loyalty with a better-tasting recipe.
The Science of the "Chalky" Texture
If you've ever wondered why they don't melt like chocolate, it's because they are "compressed sugar" candies. They belong to the same family as Smarties or Pez. The structural integrity comes from the pressure of the press and the binding agent (gelatin).
Because they don't have fats (like chocolate) or high moisture (like gummies), they are incredibly stable. This makes them a dream for retailers. They don't spoil easily, and they don't melt in a warm truck. They are the "immortal" candy of the holiday world.
How to Actually Use Your Leftover Hearts
If you find yourself with three pounds of valentine candy hearts on February 15th, don't just throw them out. They’re actually surprisingly useful if you get creative.
- Infuse Vodka: Drop a handful of the red and pink ones into a jar of vodka. Give it a few days. You’ll end up with a bright pink, cherry-flavored spirit that’s great for cocktails.
- Science Experiments: Put them in different liquids—vinegar, soda, water—to see how long it takes for the "shell" to dissolve. It’s a classic elementary school science fair project.
- Baking Decor: Pulse them in a food processor for a second to create "Valentine Dust." Use it as a rimmer for cocktail glasses or sprinkle it over sugar cookies.
- Sugar Scrub: If you’re into DIY skincare, crushed candy hearts can act as a physical exfoliant when mixed with coconut oil, though the dye might stain your skin if you aren't careful.
Shopping Tips for Next Year
If you want the "classic" experience, look for the Spangler Sweethearts brand specifically. If you want something that actually tastes like fruit, go for the Brach’s "Tiny Conversation Hearts."
Check the "Best By" date, but honestly, it doesn't matter much. These things are basically edible fossils. The most important thing is the ink. If you’re planning on using them for a specific "Ask" (like asking someone to prom or a date), open the box first. You’d be surprised how many boxes contain 40 "BE MINE" hearts and zero "YES" hearts.
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To make the most of your Valentine's haul, try sorting them by phrase before putting them in a candy dish. It sounds obsessive, but it prevents that awkward moment where your boss picks up a heart that says "KISS ME" during a meeting.
Keep an eye out for the "misfit" bags. Some retailers sell the factory seconds—the broken, smeared, and oddly shaped hearts—for a fraction of the price. They taste exactly the same and have a certain "abstract art" charm to them that feels very 2026.
Now, go grab a box, find the one that says "UR CUTE," and give it to someone who deserves a little bit of chalky, sugary history. Just maybe have a glass of water nearby to wash it down.
Next Steps for Your Valentine Planning
- Check the bottom of the candy aisle for "vintage" flavor packs; some stores still carry the tropical or sour versions that are much better than the originals.
- If you’re hosting a party, use the hearts as "place cards" by finding names or initials in the pile.
- Store any extras in a truly airtight container if you want to keep them for crafts; they don't rot, but they can absorb smells from your pantry if left in the cardboard box.